Yesterday's webinar cut straight to the question on everyone's mind: can people use AI to write their business plans? The short answer is yes - the majority of applications received show evidence that Chat GPT or other AI language models are being used. But is this the right thing to do?
The short answer from our team was clear—AI can help you think faster, but it can't replace your thinking. In a session sparked by the growing number of business plans arriving at Innovator International that read more like polished fiction than founder-led visions, they unpacked the real role AI should play in business planning: co-pilot, not autopilot.
The webinar addressed concerns about heavily AI-generated plans that often contain generic bullet points with minimal detail, weak founder context, and no clear personal story. For Innovator Founder Visa applicants especially, the stakes are high - if you can't defend your plan in an interview, the whole application can unravel.
So what's the answer? Use AI as a tool to structure, clarify, critique, and pressure-test your thinking, never as the author of your core idea. Innovation doesn't come from algorithms; it comes from founders who've lived the problem, validated the solution, and can explain every line of their plan with conviction.
Missed it? Watch the full session [here] and discover how to use AI without losing your edge
Innovator International
UK train travel can feel unnecessarily expensive, but it doesn't have to be
Understanding and navigating the UK rail system often means choosing between flexibility and affordability. Many default to pricier tickets simply because the pricing structure feels confusing at first. But once you understand how dynamic pricing works, when to book, and which little-known tools can slash your costs, train travel becomes far more manageable.
Our latest guide breaks down everything from Advance tickets and Railcards to split ticketing strategies that can sometimes halve your fare. You'll learn why booking earlier almost always saves money, how shifting a meeting by 30 minutes can change the price, and which practical habits make frequent travel less stressful.
Whether you're commuting regularly or travelling to Innovator events across the country, these insights can save you hundreds over time and help you focus less on ticket prices and more on building connections that matter.
Innovator International
Coming Tomorrow: The Language Learning Revolution You Didn't Know You Needed
You know that feeling when you've studied a language for years, passed all the exams, memorised all the vocab lists... and then completely freeze when you try to order a coffee abroad?
We've all been there. And Camila got tired of watching it happen.
Tomorrow we're sharing her story - a Chilean teacher who moved to the UK and kept seeing the same thing: people who could ace their English exams but panicked the moment they had to actually speak. So she built BeLingual to fix it. Turns out, when you focus on real conversations instead of grammar drills, people learn 66% faster.
But this isn't one of those polished "I always knew I'd be a founder" stories. This is about being the first in your family to go to university, the reality of getting a Startup Visa in 2020, and slowly realising that being different is actually your biggest advantage.
There's also the bit about scheduling painting into her calendar so she doesn't feel guilty for not working on a Sunday. Which, honestly, feels very relatable.
If you're building something and wondering if you're making the right choices, or curious whether the UK actually backs international founders (it does), you'll want to read this one.
More tomorrow on www.innovatorpulse.com
We'd love to spotlight your entrepreneurial journey - if you're part of our Innovator community and have a story to share, get in touch with us to be featured
... and don't forget, you can find and read all our stories here:
Harriet Fuller
Catch up on our articles
We've been busy writing easy, informative articles to help with all stages of your business journey. Some are there to help with various stages of your Innovator Visa journey, others to give top tip advice...
Richard Harrison
Innovator International
Richard Harrison
